Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 274: Chapter 273: Misdirection (Bonus Chapter for 120 Monthly Tickets)

One hand holding the phoenix crown, the other covering Du Yunluo’s neck, Mu Lianxiao applied gentle pressure with his fingers.

The calloused fingertips brushed across the back of her neck, and Du Yunluo instinctively shrank her neck, her body slightly tense.

In stark contrast, Mu Lianxiao found the skin beneath his touch smooth and soft as white jade, pressing so lightly that he was afraid his pressure might hurt Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo leaned slightly against Mu Lianxiao, deliberately ignoring the hand lingering on her neck, and asked, ”Aren’t you going out to toast?”

Mu Lianxiao hesitated slightly, muttered a response, and only then slowly withdrew his hand: ”I’ll have someone bring you something to eat.”

Du Yunluo nodded and looked up at Mu Lianxiao; they were so close that their breaths were audible.

She saw Mu Lianxiao’s eyes darken a bit.

Just when Du Yunluo thought Mu Lianxiao might embrace or kiss her, he abruptly distanced himself, getting up to leave.

Du Yunluo didn’t understand until she saw Jin Rui entering, and then she understood.

After a taste and leaving a longing, it would be even harder to leave, but staying any longer in the bridal room would truly be laughable.

Du Yunluo had Jin Rui help her remove the phoenix crown, re-do her hair, change out of the wedding dress, wash her face, remove the rouge, revealing a fair and clear complexion.

Jin Lan came in, made a respectful bow, and said, ”Miss, Lady is here.”

Jin Rui disapprovingly glanced at Jin Lan, correcting her: ”Not Miss, but Madam.”

Jin Lan nodded repeatedly.

Du Yunluo exhaled slowly, understanding that after marrying into the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, it wasn’t only about rekindling the past with Mu Lianxiao; there was much more she needed to do.

For her and Mu Lianxiao’s future, she had to firmly suppress those in the second household.

Mu Lianhui was waiting for her in the East Wing.

Du Yunluo, supported by Jin Rui’s hand, went out, and the sound of the beads curtain moving made Mu Lianhui look up.

”Finally got married,” Mu Lianhui said with a smile.

Du Yunluo’s gaze swept around the East Wing.

She had noticed in the inner room that the furnishings and arrangements were the same as in Shaohui Garden where she had lived when newly married. She had stayed in Shaohui Garden for five years until Mu Lianxiao died in battle, and she couldn’t bear seeing things that reminded her of him, so she moved out.

Yet now, she had returned here.

The layout of the East Wing was just as in her memory.

A row of antique shelves partitioned the East Wing from the light room, with stones and jade placed on them, along with a Western clock. Against the wall was an Arhat Bed carved with a Hundred Gentleman scene, with a small table in the center where she and Mu Lianxiao used to play chess. The East Wing behind her served as an inner chamber, separated by a six-panel screen carved with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, with a beaded curtain only over the passage for entry and exit.

The main room of Shaohui Garden was five sections wide, with the West Attic opposite serving as a study. A couch and embroidery frame were placed in the side room, where Du Yunluo often whiled away the time, and the light room was used for receiving guests.

Obviously, close relatives like Mu Lianhui weren’t considered ”guests.”

Du Yunluo sat opposite Mu Lianhui and said with a smile, ”Since I’m new here, I know nothing. I’m grateful to have Lady to talk to me.”

Mu Lianhui picked up a teacup from the small table, sipped it with narrowed eyes, and said, ”What’s the rush? You’ll learn everything slowly.”

Du Yunluo smiled lightly, without replying.

A maid in a green waistcoat entered carrying a food box and smiled while saying, ”Maid Yu Zhu greets Madam; the Princely Heir asked me to bring some food for Madam.”

Du Yunluo nodded, thinking to herself that although she was familiar with Shaohui Garden, there were some unfamiliarities, like Yu Zhu, whom she’d never seen serving here before, and her appearance was unfamiliar. Du Yunluo couldn’t even recall if she’d ever encountered such a maid in her past life.

The food Yu Zhu brought in was all sorts of pastries.

After fasting all day, Du Yunluo preferred these small pastries to the rich dishes, which were more to her liking even if they were less sweet. After all, this wasn’t the Du Mansion, and the pastries were made by the main kitchen, not quite to Du Yunluo’s taste. It wasn’t surprising they were more bland, but they were enough to fill her stomach.

”Would you like some too, Lady?” Du Yunluo turned to ask Mu Lianhui.

Mu Lianhui nodded, sent Yu Zhu away, and slowly finished a lily cake before wiping her hands and saying, ”That Yu Zhu earlier was chosen by Ah Shao.”

Du Yunluo quietly regarded Mu Lianhui.

Mu Lianhui said, ”Originally, it wasn’t her supposed to work here, but one day Ah Shao saw her in the garden and said to keep her serving here.”

Du Yunluo lowered her eyes, understanding Mu Lianhui’s intentions.

At this moment, Du Yunluo had no particular feelings about Yu Zhu, and considering her understanding of Mu Lianxiao, even if he did pick someone, it surely wasn’t for that reason.

Although she didn’t know why Mu Lianxiao did it, Du Yunluo trusted him. Mu Lianhui was trying to mislead her, prompting her to argue with Mu Lianxiao over trivial matters on their wedding night.

Previously, the jealous Du Yunluo might have done so, but now...

Du Yunluo wouldn’t be so foolish.

”I see...” Du Yunluo replied.

Her tone was neutral, neither believing nor disbelieving, causing Mu Lianhui’s brow to crease slightly.

But Mu Lianhui quickly smiled again and said, ”There’s another one named Lian Qiao, sent from Grandmother’s side.”

”Surely she’s competent,” Du Yunluo said.

Du Yunluo was indeed familiar with Lian Qiao, who had served her before.

Because Du Yunluo didn’t get along well with Old Madam Wu, she didn’t trust Lian Qiao, seeing her as an informant planted by Baijie Hall. As she recalled now, Lian Qiao’s work had no obvious flaws; most crucially, her loyalty to Old Madam Wu was unquestionable, making her a useful maid.

At least better than those maids who solely followed the Lian Family’s lead.

Mu Lianhui and Du Yunluo continued their conversation sporadically, sensing that today’s Du Yunluo was hard to converse with, her words sound indifferent.

”Are you tired?” Mu Lianhui asked her.

Du Yunluo softly replied, ”Yes, very tired.”

Again, the conversation hit a dead end, though nowhere to find fault.

Big weddings were indeed exhausting.

A greet was heard from outside.

The weary Du Yunluo immediately sat up straight.

The curtain was lifted, and Mu Lianxiao, in red attire, entered her sight.

”Ah Shao is back,” Mu Lianhui stood up, ”I shall leave then.”

Du Yunluo eagerly escorted Mu Lianhui out following the etiquette, then instructed Yu Zhu at the door, ”Prepare hot water and sobering soup.”

After speaking, Du Yunluo turned to go back.

No one was in the East Wing, so Du Yunluo headed to the inner room.

As she stepped in, Mu Lianxiao called, ”Yunluo, don’t come in yet. I reek of alcohol; I might suffocate you.”

Du Yunluo leaned against the screen and smiled with squinted eyes.

Suffocated by the smell of alcohol?

She wasn’t that delicate.